Window Shopping

[Mr Whiskey]

Woops! Assumed the African Twin was a V-twin my bad! Got a good look at one yesterday at Deals Gap...(they're givin' one away in Sept.) & dang if it aint a parallel twin. Started doin' some reading & it's pretty comparable to the Tenere. 80lbs lighter makes it real close in power-to-weight, & I wouldn't mind the chain drive. Got my interest! Glad ya posted it Joe, I might never have even looked at it

2018 PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION® DESTINATION RIDE & EVENT
Date: September 29, 2018
Purpose: Join us in helping the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® Ride for Kids®, which funds research for childhood brain tumors. We'll have a destination ride, free lunch and a silent auction, as well presentations and a motorcycle giveaway!
Hours: All Day
Where: DGMR
Who Will Be There: Music and Food
Full Details: http://create.mopro.com/192080/home
(scroll to bottom of linked page)

[The emperor has no clothes]

Woops! Assumed the African Twin was a V-twin my bad! Got a good look at one yesterday at Deals Gap...(they're givin' one away in Sept.) & dang if it aint a parallel twin. Started doin' some reading & it's pretty comparable to the Tenere. 80lbs lighter makes it real close in power-to-weight, & I wouldn't mind the chain drive. Got my interest! Glad ya posted it Joe, I might never have even looked at it

2018 PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION® DESTINATION RIDE & EVENT
Date: September 29, 2018
Purpose: Join us in helping the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® Ride for Kids®, which funds research for childhood brain tumors. We'll have a destination ride, free lunch and a silent auction, as well presentations and a motorcycle giveaway!
Hours: All Day
Where: DGMR
Who Will Be There: Music and Food
Full Details: http://create.mopro.com/192080/home
(scroll to bottom of linked page)

I was looking at that just the other day. 

[3fan4life]

I've been keeping my eyes open watching for these to start showing up for sale:

yeah, ever since the Navy went to 100% "no gasoline on board" there have been sooooo many cool diesel products developed to supply them. Welders, generators, MC, outboard motors, you name it. I'm really surprised all/more of these items aren't making it to market in civilian models. Maybe they run afoul of EPA/CARB regs?

The engine conversion is made for the military by hayes Diesel Technology http://www.dieselmotorcycles.com/.

I read somewhere that the conversion cost was $10k.

My hope is that some of these bikes will begin to be auctioned off on the GSA website.

[Leathel]

I would love an adventure bike again... My bikes in my younger years were more dirt bike than road bike but were used on the road, The likes of the XR600's. Good fun bikes but I have got used to electric start these days and would use my DRZ400 on the road if I could...just for fun but rule its off road only (paperwork issues, never registered from new)

If I had the money a new KTM 1290 would be fun.... the lighter, smaller africa twin is a great bike though so I don't know which I would get, A good friend has the Africa twin and loves it, has done some pretty out of the way roads/tracks on it. My Brother has the DL1000 (Vstrom) and while he thinks its OK he only has it because was cheap, not even close to the other two mentioned on bad roads/dirt tracks, he has taken the KTM 1190 on this across country trip Link below and the 1290R is supposed to be a step up from that

https://youtu.be/rXs9NSZjrHI

But the lighter adventure bikes appeal to me more, if solo riding and you get one of the big girls buried in mud you are in for the long haul  to get it out

So Africa twin is a likely contender...If I had the money

It is a shame I can't road register my dirt bike... 400 is a bit small but it would do for now, may just swap it for a 650 for now.. better gearing on the 650 for road use but the 400 goes as hard




More KTM adventure riding, the 2017 North Island ride..... One day I must do one of these

https://youtu.be/Ob3lyYRxrdo

[Chillerman]

Sold the Valkyrie



and bought an FJR1300



Didn't ride either of them enough. Sold the FJR and bought this!




8000 miles in the first 6 months, couldn't be happier!

[Pappy!]

Joe - There are BMWs that fit your description for sure but the 1150 platform was pretty well proven, design wise.
I had to replace a stick coil and do normal maint. on it when purchased. That was it.
The 2003 and prior is a single plug design and the 2004 is dual plug and the change was a nice one.
It is a bike that I regret selling.
You would also have a blast on a Triumph Thunderbird sport. Engines are 3-cylinders, are bulletproof and in your neck of the woods they would be an absolute blast. I currently have an Adventurer which is a bit tamer version.

[The emperor has no clothes]

How about this for the fire roads ?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EvL6_CsH90A

[Leathel]

How about this for the fire roads ?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EvL6_CsH90A

there was a couple of road bikes with dirt tires on at the last cold kiwi doing hill climbs, but the only footage I can find that I took was on the easy hill with 4 on the bike....pretty rough and ready but they went OK

https://youtu.be/1JgAfQd2WDk